Album Review

Kylie – Aphrodite

• 16th Jul 2010

Pint-sized pop star Kylie Minogue has been in and out of lives since the early 80’s. It all began when fellow cast members on set at Ramsay Street heard her version of the ‘Loco-Motion’ at a talent show…. as they say the rest is history. Since then we’ve seen her blossom to what she is today.

Throughout her 11 studio albums we’ve certainly witnessed the adopting of different sounds to find her signature style. Embracing peculiar indie with Nick Cave and thankfully after a break she rediscovered herself in the early 00’ with the intensely divine dance pop… which seems to be the much-loved.

The new album ‘Aphrodite’ doesn’t contain tracks vastly different from those of ‘Light Years’, ‘’X’ or ’Fever’ however, it has the same excitable sparkle everyone loves, just with a little more direction. With some impressive musical song writing collaborations with the likes of Calvin Harris, Jake Shears and front man of Keane,Tim Rice-Oxley. So it certainly goes that bit further.

On listening we’re greeted by the first single ‘All the lovers’ now usually Kylie delivers a jaw dropping first single, this hasn’t been her best. On initial welcome it lacks something exaggeratingly ‘wow’ about it, but it does nurture and like many other Miss Minogue tracks it’s definitely hummable. On the plus side its undeniably a great taste into the sound of the album, although there are plenty more juicy glittery tracks bundled in. With many songs produced by Stuart Price, (the man behind some of Madonna and Scissor Sisters latest albums) you can feel that electro dance thrown across these tunes, sometimes giving a daft punk meets Ibiza rocks vibe, especially in ‘Can’t Beat the Feeling’.

It’s not all bubbles though, there are tracks like ‘Better than today’ that provide the urge to trade your dance shoes for cowboy boots… well..not quite but there is a definite Dolly Parton feeling.

‘Everything is Beautiful’ which is the track written by Tom Rice-Oxley, has ‘Keane’ stamped all over it, a very smooth track as always (in true Tom form) with beautifully dazzling lyrics that go hand in hand with the equally dazzling music and vocals.

If you listen to this album with no false pretences that this its going to be spectacularly different from other Kylie albums, then it is a real treat. It has everything you need for a feel good album, and to be honest it’s Kylie doing what she does best.

‘Can you feel me in stereo?’… we certainly can Kylie and I’m sure many will.